Netanyahu Finally Presents Gaza Post-War Plan To Cabinet & It's Sure To Anger Biden Admin
On Thursday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented Israel's security cabinet with a much anticipated document outlining plans for the 'day after' Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He's repeatedly vowed to not stop the large-scale military operation Gaza until the terror group is completely eradicated - a tall order which some analysts say could take years to actually accomplish - and the question of who will rule Gaza in the aftermath has become a contentious one.
The US has wanted to see West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) eventually take over, but Netanyahu has firmly rejected this as a plausible scenario, calling the PA 'terror supporters'. Of the new plan presented to top officials, Israeli media writes, "The subsequently publicized document, a one-pager released overnight in Israel, is largely a collection of principles the premier has been vocalizing since the beginning of the war, but it is the first time they have formally been presented to the cabinet for approval." Many of his ministers want to see Israel simply annex the Strip, however.
A main theme of the document is that Israel will aim to install "local officials" from among Palestinians to administer services for the Gaza Strip instead of Hamas.
They must be completely unaffiliated with Hamas, and further must not be involved with or backed by "countries or entities that support terrorism" (which means especially Qatar or Iran). There is no mention in the proposed plan of whether these might be Palestinian Authority representatives.
Another interesting main point is the establishment of a "de-radicalization plan… in all religious, educational and welfare institutions in Gaza."
Crucially, the document lays out that "The IDF will continue the war until achieving its goals, which are the destruction of the military capabilities and governmental infrastructure of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the return of the hostages abducted on October 7, and the removal of any security threat from Gaza Strip long-term."
The operation will continue until Israeli forces achieve the "complete demilitarization" of the Strip "beyond what is required for the needs of maintaining public order."
An extensive security buffer zone will also be maintained on the Palestinian side of the Strip's border "as long as there is a security need for it" - which essentially means an indefinite occupation of this border region.
Overall the document establishes principles which are directly at odds with the Biden administration's desired outcome of the Strip being handed over to the PA in the future. Biden and his top officials have also voiced support for a two state solution, however which the Netanyahu document denounces as a "reward for terror".
Meanwhile, Israel's military has declared it is safe for residents to return to communities which lie within 4km of the Gaza border. The effected 18 border settlements include Zikim, Karmia, Yad Mordechai, Erez, Or Haner, Ibim, Sderot, Nir Am, Gevim, Mefalsim, Sa’ad, Alumim, Reim, Magen, Nir Yitzhak, Shlomit, Naveh and Bnei Netzarim - according to the statement.